Theatre is a must for actors. They should try it at least once.

In the voice of Sushant Singh Rajput, there rings a teaching not only for those who walk upon the stage, but for all who seek mastery in their craft: “Theatre is a must for actors. They should try it at least once. It makes you disciplined, teaches you to respect your work, and boosts your confidence as an actor.” What seems a simple counsel to artists is in truth a profound reminder of the eternal virtues of labor, humility, and courage. For the stage is not merely a platform of performance, but a temple where the soul of the actor is purified through trial and truth.

The theatre, with its raw immediacy, strips away the comforts of retakes, edits, and illusions. An actor must stand before the audience as a warrior stands before his people—exposed, unguarded, alive in every breath. It demands discipline, for every movement, every pause, every word must be carried with intention. Without discipline, the performance falters; with it, the actor learns not only to command the role, but to command himself. Rajput, who himself began his journey upon the stage, knew that in theatre, one forges the inner strength that sustains every future endeavor.

History bears witness to this truth. In the days of ancient Greece, actors stepped into the amphitheaters of Athens, where tens of thousands gathered to watch the tragedies of Sophocles or the comedies of Aristophanes. There, before the eyes of the people, actors became more than entertainers—they became vessels of collective wisdom, sorrow, and joy. They rehearsed endlessly, drilled in voice, posture, and presence. This discipline was not merely for art’s sake, but for the sake of embodying truth itself. Thus, theatre became a sacred training ground, shaping not only actors but citizens, for the lessons of the stage were the lessons of life.

Rajput speaks also of respect—the respect for one’s work that theatre instills. In the world of film or television, fame and glamour can too easily cloud the heart. But in theatre, the respect must be real. There are no shortcuts, no indulgences, no room for vanity. Each actor depends upon the other, as links in a chain, and each performance is born from sweat, rehearsal, and reverence for the craft. Respect here is not given by applause but earned in the quiet hours of preparation. To learn respect in theatre is to learn it in life: that all labor, however humble, deserves devotion.

And from this respect and discipline arises confidence—not the shallow confidence that seeks approval, but the deep confidence that comes from having faced the silence of an audience and filled it with living breath. Every actor who has stood on stage knows the tremor of fear before the curtain rises. But by stepping through it, they learn a greater lesson: that fear itself is the threshold to growth. The actor who conquers the stage conquers his own doubts, and that victory will carry him into every other realm of existence.

We see this truth in the journey of Laurence Olivier, one of the greatest actors of the twentieth century. Though celebrated in cinema, he returned time and again to theatre, to Shakespeare’s plays, to the raw discipline of the stage. He confessed that without theatre, his art would wither, for only there could he test the full measure of his skill and spirit. So too did Rajput, in his wisdom, echo this eternal principle: that every actor, whether destined for screen or stage, must once taste the fire of live performance, to temper their craft in its heat.

The lesson for us all is clear: whatever your path, seek the “theatre” of your own discipline—that place where you are tested without shield, where respect, discipline, and confidence are forged. If you are a writer, let your theatre be the unedited page, written before others’ eyes. If you are a leader, let your theatre be the moment of decision, made without delay. If you are a student, let your theatre be the examination where only truth and preparation can prevail.

Therefore, take Rajput’s words into your life: try the stage of discipline at least once, in whatever form it appears. Do not flee from the place where you stand exposed, for there you will learn respect for your work and confidence in yourself. And when you rise from that stage, you will carry within you not only the skills of your craft, but the courage of one who has faced the fire and emerged stronger. This is the gift of theatre, and it is a gift that belongs not only to actors, but to all who dare to live with purpose.